Liquid dispenser and method and apparatus for filling same

ABSTRACT

A liquid dispenser having a liquid containment barrel or body with a slidable sealing and dispensing-effecting plunger, the plunger having a self-sealing slit formed therein to enable filling therethrough of the dispenser barrel, the slit being formed at the bottom forwardly facing end of a threaded handleconnecting recess in the exposed rear portion of the plunger. A male fill member is employed, to be selectively inserted into and releasably open the plunger slit and to selectively fill the barrel with liquid, while venting past the male fill member through a vent eye formed in the opened slit as a result of insertion of the male fill member. An annular ring and grove on the rear end plunger and a lip shoulder stop on the rear end of the syringe barrel or body enable desired forward motion inhibiting action on the plunger during insertion and removal of the male fill member relative to the plunger slit.

United States Patent n91 Tischlinger et al. 7

[5 LIQUID DISPENSER AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SAME [75]Inventors: Edward A. Tischlinger, Des Plaines,

Brian E. Baldwin, Wilmette both of [73] Assignee: M P L, Inc., Chicago,Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 205,000

[52]v US. Cl. ..141/2, 141/27, 141/350,

141/392, 161/117, ZZZ/386.5 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65b 3/04, B650 3/02 [58]Field of Search ..141/1, 2, 18-29,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,610,297 10/1971 Raafeta]. ..141/27 Primary Examinerl-louston S. Bell, Jr.

Att0rneyReginald F. Pippin, Jr.

[451 Apr. 21,1973

[57 ABSTRACT or body with a slidable sealing and dispensing-effectingplunger, the plunger having a self-sealing slit formed therein to enablefilling therethrough of the dispenser barrel, the slit being formed atthe bottom forwardly facing end of a threaded handle-connecting recessin the exposed rear portion of the plunger. A male fill member isemployed, to be selectively inserted into and releasably open theplunger slit and to selectively fill the barrel with liquid, whileventing past the male fill member through a vent eye formed in theopened slit as a result of insertion of the male fill member. An annularring and grove on the rear end plunger and a lip shoulder stop on therear end of the syringe barrel or body enable desired forward motioninhibiting action on the plunger during insertion and removal of themale fill member relative to the plunger slit.

59 Claims, 14 nrawiiig ii ui" Patented April 24, 1973 4 Sheets-Shes; 1

I3 K IY///// lSc EDWARD A.TISCHLINGER BRIAN E. BALDWIN FIG.2

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 EDWARD A.TISCHLINGER BRIAN E. BALDWIN FIG. 5A INVENTORSPatehted April 24, 1913 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EDWARD A.TISCHLINGER BRIAN E.BALDWIN LIQUID DISPENSER AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SAME Thisinvention relates to liquid dispensers, and a method and apparatus forfilling such dispensers, and more particularly to a back-fillable liquiddispenser arrangement and a method and apparatus for filling suchthrough the back or rear of the dispenser arrangement.

Syringes for use in dispensing fluids are well-known in the art, andnormally consist of a barrel or cylinder body with a slidable plunger orpiston in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the annular wall of a boreformed in the barrel for containment of liquid, and with exit portarrangements at the discharge or dispensing end of the barrel. In theprior art there have been various methods employed for filling suchsyringes with fluid. Syringes used for administration of drugs in liquidform, either orally or-by injection with a needle or the dispensing endof the syringe, have conventionally been filled prior to use, byaspirating the liquid in through the forward or dispensing end of thesyringe which is used subsequently for dispensing of the same fluid fromthe syringe. This method is slow, as it is often accomplished through adispensing needle canula with a relatively small liquid flow bore, andas it depends on the pressure differential between a partially formedvacuum and the external atmospheric pressure, formed through manualrearward motion of the syringe plunger or piston while holding thedispensing end of the syringe within the body of liquid desired to beaspirated in. It is additionally hazardousto safety, as the dispensingend of the syringe is thereby contaminated with the liquid, as well asitself forming a possible contaminant source for the liquid beingaspirated into the syringe.

There is a well-established need to fill syringes which are used tostore liquid drugs or other pharmaceuticals for a significant length oftime, and in hospital practice this is often done in pharmacies. Variousmethods have been utilized, including the aspiration of liquid throughthe forward dispensing end, as discussed above. In addition, it has beenattempted to fill the syringe through the back or plunger end of thesyringe, by sliding a needle along the interface between the rubber orother elastic plunger and the bore wall in the barrel, and in someinstances a sharp-pointed beveled hollow needle or canula has beenemployed to pierce directly through the sold plunger. However, theseprior art efforts at backfilling ofa syringe have been less than fullydesirable and successful, as both mentioned methods have substantialdisadvantages. In the case where a fillneedle is attempted to be slidpast and between the plunger and the barrel bore wall, it will beappreciated that a relatively fine-sized needle is required as apracticality,-

and while such is feasible, the needles so employed have a required fillbore of such small size that desired injection molding of the fillneedle is essentially impractical or impossible in production, as theinjection molding core element becomes impractically too small to beeffective for production processes, and in any event the needle ispractically required to be so small as to render filling a relativelyslow and tedioustask, in addition to representing a tedious mechanicalinsertion problem in sliding the fill needle or canula between theplunger and the bore wall, and also providing substantial opportunitiesfor contamination in the course of attempting to slide the fill needlebetween the plunger and the bore side wall. The other mentionedattempted method of fillinf, utilizing a sharp piercing and puncturinghollow fill needle or canula, also requires as a practical matter theemployment of a small size needle, with resultant relatively slowfilling of the syringe therethrough. In addition, such method has anaccompanying serious and highly disadvantageous safety hazard, inpotentially causing a core to be cut by the sharp piercing andpuncturing forward end of the canula, which core will then be injectedinto the syringe in the course of filling, with subsequent potentialharin to the patient upon dispensing of the liquid from the syringe. Inaddition, this method of filling poses a further disadvantage in that afluid-tight seal is formed around the fill needle as a result of itspuncture-piercing of the elastic plunger, thereby providing a ventingproblem during attempted insertion of liquid through the fill needle andinto the syringe. While needles may be employed which have a secondaryvent hole extending therethrough for connection with the atmosphere,such are necessarily more expensive and less desirable than a singlebore tube for insertion of liquids.

It is an object and advantage of the present invention to provide asyringe or other dispenser or dispensing cartridge for liquids, whichcan be delivered to the desired place for filling in sterile and emptycondition, and which may be fully assembled and may then be filled atthe desired place of filling, easily and without disassembly orcontamination. In effecting this object and advantage, the inventionutilizes a backfilling arrangement and method, which enables simple,easy, fast and safe filling. By this simple, fast and safe arrangementand method for filling through the back or plunger end of the syringe orother dispenser, it is possible to employ various arrangements as may bedesired at the dispensing or exit port end of the syringe, includingvarious needles, valves, connectors, nozzles, caps, etc. which arepermitted to remain intact and uncontaminated during filling.

It is a further object and feature of the invention to provide abackfilled dispenser arrangement which enables the utilization of arelatively large fill canula or fill needle, and which fill needle orcanula desirably does not employ a sharp piercing end, but which isdesirably blunt, and which fill needle or canula may have a relativelylarge fill bore extending therethrough.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of abackfilled dispenser arrangement and method and apparatus for fillingsuch, which provides a self-forming natural air vent between a fillneedle or canula and the surrounding insertion zone about the fillneedle or canula, and which air vent is subsequently self-sealing afterwithdrawal of the fill needle or canula.

It is a further feature to provide a simple, safe, and efficientbackfilled syringe or dispenser arrangement and method and apparatus forfilling such, which enables various liquids, including thick and viscousliquids as well as thin or less viscous liquids, to be fed relativelyeasily through the back of the dispenser.

A further feature in carrying out the present invention is the relativeease of gauging the true quantity of liquid inserted into the dispenser,as air bubbles are substantially less likely to be injected into thesyringe or other dispenser arrangement in utilizing the presentinvention that would be likely with aspirated front-endfilled syringesor other dispensers.

It will accordingly be appreciated that major advantages and features ofthis invention are provided in safety in filling, speed of filling, andthe enablement of utilization ofa simple and low-cost fill needle orcanula arrangement for filling.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdetailed description of a preferred and various other physicalambodiments constructed in accordance with the invention, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective and with parts partially cutaway for clarity of illustration, illustrating a preferred embodiment ofa syringe dispenser, and fill apparatus for filling such according tothe invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the syringe dispenser of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fill member or fill needle of FIG.1, being shown in enlarged view for clarity ofillustration.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal secton view of the fill member or fill needleof FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section view of the fill cylinder or syringe,fill needle, and fillable syringe dispenser, in assembled andinterconnected position for filling ofthe syringe dispenser.

FIG. 5A is a view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating a further step at theconclusion of the filling operation and prior to withdrawal of theneedle from the syringe plunger.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the radially elastically compressed andconfined multipurpose syringe'plunger within the syringe barrel, withfill needle positioned therein for filling and with the surroundingsyringe body section shown in phantom for clarity of illustratron.

FIG. 6A is a section view taken on line 6A6 A of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partially cut away section view of a forward seal member asutilized in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section view illustrating the attachment of ahandle to the plunger, after filling of the syringe.

FIG. 9 is a partially cut away perspective view of a preferred plungerembodiment as employed in the syringe embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 10 is a partially cut away view in perspective of a modified formof plunger according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section view of a modified and preferred formof back fillable slitted plunger according to the invention. I

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view of an assembly of asyringe with the modified plunger of FIG. 11 positioned therein in anoptional alternative modified position and with a fill needle insertedtherein during filling.

Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings, in FIG. 1 thereis illustrated a syringe dispenser 11 constructed in accordance with theinvention, together with a fill member therefor in the form of a fillneedle 61, a fill cylinder or syringe arrangement 71, and an attachablehandle 51 for the syringe 11.

The syringe 11, which is more fully illustrated in enlarged form in FIG.2, and its various parts and their functions in subsequent Figures,preferably takes the form of a glass tube body or barrel 13 having aforward dispensing nose end section 15 formed or secured thereon, and afinger grip section 17 formed or secured on the rear thereof. The glasstube body or barrel 13 may be formed of conventional glass tubing andhas a cylindrical bore forming a liquid containment chamber 13a which isbounded at the rear by a multipurpose plunger 31 and in the illustrativeembodiment is bounded at the forward end by a forward seal 41. Theforward nose end section 15 is preferably formed with a reduced diametertip or nose having a dispensing mouth orifice 19. The nose or tip 150may take various forms, as may be desired, depending upon the ultimateutility desired, as for instance such may be threaded or formed with aLuer taper for securing a needle unit thereto for injection purposes, orsuch may if desired be of a size and shape such that standard needleunits may not be secured thereto, as in oral drug dispensing uses whereit is desired to prevent the possibility of inadvertently and mistakenlysecuring an injection needle to the syringe and injecting the liquidinto a human body when the drug is only for oral or other desired use.

Both the finger grip section 17 and the forward nose section 15 may besuitably formed of polypropylene, and may be slidably press-fit over therespective opposite ends of the glass tube body or barrel 13.Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the glass tube body 13 itselfmay be formed with an integral finger grip thereon at its rear sectionor otherwise as may be desired, and/or likewise the forward nose endsection 15 may be integrally formed as a part of the glass tube body.Or, syringe body l3, l5, 17 may be formed of other material, either inseparate parts or integrally, as may be desired and satisfactory for agiven utilization and/or liquid L which may be desired to be dispensed.However, it will be appreciated that utilization of a glass tube body 13is a preferred construction, as glass is a highly preferred material forcontainment of liquid drugs or other chemicals, in view of its variousdesirable properties such as low reactivity, low absorption andadsorption, and its transparency.

The forward seal 41 in the illustrative embodiment takes the form of aplug of elastic material, such as rubber, and serves as a pop-out bypassvalve seal which is self-sealing with the bore wall in the compressedbore-retained position as shown in full lines in FIG. 2, and which is ofa larger free size and shape to enable fluid bypass therearound andtherepast from fluid chamber 13a through enlarged bypass chamber orcavity 16 and out through dispenser orifice or mouth 19 when such seal41 is moved forward by columnar pressure thereon from rear plunger 31through the contained fluid in the chamber 13a, thereby enabling initialsealing and subsequent dispensing of the liquid from within the syringe11 after such is filled according to the invention and as will besubsequently described. In the illustrative embodiment, forward sealplug 41 has a cruciform ridge 43 formed on its forward and rearwardsurfaces, with face groobes 45, which insure full bypass fluid flow pastthe seal plug 41 after such has been ejected into the bypass chamber orcavity 16.

In lieu of the forward seal 41, the syringe 11 may employ other forwardseal arrangements, such as a rupflow therefrom through its small boreand long length canula size as to enable effective filling of thesyringe 11 essentially without loss of fluid through the dispensingmouth'orifice notwithstanding the absence of a full seal or cover withinor over the external forward end of the syringe 1 1. It will beappreciated that in most instances, and particularly in those instanceswhere pharmacy or other intermediate stage filling is effected forsubsequent use at another location, at least an external cover isdesired over the tip or nose 150 or such other dispensing end on thesyringe l1, and a preferred form also includes an internal forward seal,such as seal 41. 1

The elastic self-sealing plunger 31 disposed at the rear or back end ofthe syringe 11 for filling, takes the form in the preferred example, ofa cup-shaped singlepiece molded member'having its bottom end wall facingforwardly within the bore of glass tube 13, and forming the rear wall ofliquid containment chamber 13a. The rearwardly facing recess 35 ofplunger 31 is threaded to accomodate a screw-threaded forward male end53 of a conventional handle 51 which may be selectively inserted thereinafter filling the chamber 13a to enable manual manipulation of theplunger forwardly or rearwardly, for dispensing and/or aspiration actionthereby, asm'ay be desired. The elastic plunger 31 may be suitablyformed of rubber or other suitable elastic material, although rubber isnormally most preferred, the preferred form of construction being bymolding of the rubber or other material. The annular external sealingsurface of the plunger 31 has annular sealing ridges or rings 31 formedthereon with alternating annular grooves 34 therebetween, as isconventional practice, to aid in sealing and'ease of sliding motion ofthe plunger 31 along the bore wall of the tube 13, the rearmost, orother selected and sufficiently suitable annular ring 33' as well as tosome extent its adjoining annular groove 34, also serving a unique andimportant advantage in the back filling method and operation accordingto the invention, and as will be subsequently described.

The forward sealing wall 37 of'plunger 31 has a slit 37a formed therein,preferably by cutting after molding of the plunger body 31 in a solidform without the slit. ln the illustrative and preferred embodiment, theslit 37a is formed by progressively moving the plunger 31, after moldingas noted above, past a stationary or rotating knife with the wall 37extending toward and moving past the knife and sliding on a guidesurface from which the knife protrudes. The knife, not shown, may takeany desired form, and may have an inclined cutting edge progressivelyengaged by the plunger 31 as it moves therepast. The plunger 31 maypreferably be confined in a suitably complementary slotted holder whileit is moved past the knife edge, to assure desired cutting of the slit37a, and it will be appreciated that the passage of the plunger 31 pastthe knife will effect cutting of a full slit 37a across the full forwardextent of the plunger 31, including wall 37, to thereby form interfacinglips 37aa which self-sealingly engage in compressed relation against oneanother when the plunger 31 is compressed within the bore of glasscylinder 13. The preferred form of the slit 37a thus extends across thefull extent of the forward face of the plunger 31, and through the fulldepth of the wall 37, although it will be appreciated that if so desiredone may, although such is not preferred nor normally of any substantialadvantage, and is in fact to a considerable extent disadvantageous, formthe slit 37a slightly less than the thickness of wall 37, therebyleaving a thin relatively easily rupturable membrane at the base of theslit 370, which membrane is of a thickness and strength such that itdoes not require pointed piercing or puncturing thereof to open it, butwhich will be opened through shearing action thereon as a result ofstretching os such when the blunt-nosed fill member, subsequently to bedescribed, is thrust forwardly thereagainst. This form is not preferredand is disadvantageous, in that it is difficult to control the precisesize formation of the plunger and the precise thickness of suchthin-walled membrane after cutting so as to be assured of sufficientlyeasy tensile shear rupture on moving the fill member thereagainst, andin addition it is possible for the membrane to tear off and separateduring such tensile shear rupture, thereby providing a potential hazardof contaminating the liquid L with a piece or pieces of the plunger 31.The likelihood of such particulate separation of a piece of such tensilesheared thin membrane is considered greatly less than the likelihood ofcoring a much thicker wall, such as wall 37, with a piercing bevelsharpened hollow needle or canula, but is nevertheless consideredhazardous in this respect and normally undesirable.

The syringe 11 may be manufactured and distributed to a desired placefor filling, in the empty form as shown in FIG. 2, (or in a cartridgeform without one or both finger grip 17 and nose section 15, if sodesired) at which desired place of filling, the operator will utilize afill member or needle including a male fill tube or canula which isinserted into the recess 35 and through the slit 37a to communicatebetween the exterior of syringe 1 1 and the interior of liquidcontainment chamber 13a. This fill member may, if desired, suitably takethe form of a simple tube, of plastic, metal, or other suitablematerial, although plastic is simple to form and utilize and ispreferred, and in such simple utilization form the fill member tube orcanula may be simply inserted by pushing the tube end against andthrough the slit 37a. A more desirable fill member or needle is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, and indicated by the reference numeral 61, this fillneedle includes a connector body 63 having a bore 63b extendingtherethrough and connecting with a continuation bore a of smallerdiameter in an insertion tube extension 70. The tube extension 70extends from a base flange 67 which may be suitably secured to the bodysection 63 as by a heat seal at its peripheral intersection with theadjoining forward flange portion of the connector body section 63, orsuch may be otherwise suitably bonded or press-fit therein, oralternatively the entire fill needle 61 may be integrally formed as asingle piece, as by injection molding of the entire body.

Bore 63b may be straight walled along its length, or may be otherwiseformed, as by forming a Luer taper at its rear end portion, as indicatedat 63a. A conical tapered bore wall 67a is formed at the intersectionbetween bore 63b and reduced diameter bore 70a. The Luer tapered boresection 63a enables ease of attachment of the fill needle 61 to a fillcylinder or syringe 71 having a Luer connector tip or nose 79 thereto,as shown in FIG. 5, for enabling filling of a desired liquid L throughthe fill needle 61 and into a syringe dispenser 11. It will beappreciated that other connector configurations may be utilized, asdesired, in lieu of a Luer taper connection, such as a threadedconnection, a bayonet connection, or other press-fit connection, orotherwise as may be desired, the simplest and easiest connection being aLuer or other tapered fit connection.

Fill needle 61 preferably has longitudinally extending spaced ribs 69formed on the outer surface of tube extension 70 and extending from theforward face 650 of flange 65. These ribs 69 may serve a dual purpose ofproviding longitudinal vent slots therebetween, and also of providing adepth stop at the forward end during the filling operation, and will besubsequently described.

As will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 5, the plunger 31 is initiallypositioned within the rear or back end of the syringe barrel 13, withone or more of its sealing rings 33 extending rearwardly beyond aninwardly projecting annular lip detent 17b which engages with the nextforwardly adjacent annular groove 34 on the plunger 31. It is preferredto position the rearmost sealing ring and an adjacent groove in thisdetention location, such being indicated by the reference numerals 33'and 34' respectively, as this affords quite ample plunger detention forenabling ease of fill tube insertion through the slit 372, and such alsooffers the advantage of greater lateral stability for the plunger 31during the fill tube insertion and filling operation, next to bedescribed, than would be provided with a shorter forwardly retainedextent of the plunger within barrel 13 when employing the next forwardlyadjacent or other forwardly disposed sealing ring and groove for thisdetention effect. However, primarily for illustrative purpose in thisrespect, FIG. 12 does illustrate a plunger initially detained throughutilization of the penultimate or next forward succeeding sealing ring233" and annular groove 234" in an also otherwise modified plungerarrangement, later to be described in more detail. In this respect, itwill likewise be apprediated that, this modified plunger 231 may also beand is preferably, initially positioned with its rearmose annularsealing ring 233' and adjoining annular groove 234' in detainingengagement with the annular internally extending and protruding lip 17bat the rear of the syringe 11, in lieu of being utilized as shown forillustrative optional purposes in FIG. 12.

Referring now again to FIGS. 2 and 5, the syringe 11 is desirablyfurnished according to the invention, to the place of desired fillingthereof, in the form shown in FIG. 2, with the plunger 31 positioned asshown and described above. In this position, the annular protruding lip17b serves to resiliently inhibit both forward and rearward motion ofthe plunger 31 within the syringe barrel 13, thereby materially aidingin insertion and removal of the fill needle 61 with respect to slittedplunger 31. As has been previously noted, this initial resilientlydetained positioning of the slitted plunger 31 is particularlyadvantageous in enabling direct and simple push insertion of a fillneedle having a fill tube extension thereon, as in the case fill needle61, or by simple utilization of a fill tube which is desirably generallyblunt-nosed, as distinguished from being sharp-nosed with a piercingpuncture point.

Referring now further to FIG. 5, the filling operation for a syringe 11may be facilely effected by pushing the fill needle tube extensionagainst and through the slit 37a in the plunger 31, either before orafter attaching the fill needle 61 to the connector tip 79 of fillcylinder 71. As shown in FIG. 5, it is desirable that the forward face65a of fill needle body section 63 and associated flange 65 or a portionthereof, be rearwardly spaced behind the rear face 31r of plunger 31during the filling operation, to assure venting between the faces 65aand 31r. In addition, it is not necessary or desirable that the flange65 and itsforward face 650 be brought into contact with the rear face31r of the plunger at this stage in the operation, for the additionalreason that to do so might inadvertently result in pushing the plungerforwardly to move the rear annular sealing ring 33' past its externaldetaining connection with lip 17b. To this end, the operator will beexpected to insert the needle 61 and associated tube 70 into the slit37a so as to open the lips and provide a desired communication pathalong the bores 63b and 70a between chamber 13a and liquid L in fillsyringe 71, without fully closing the interfacing surfaces 65a and 31r.The ribs 69 assist in enabling the operator to achieve this desiredpositioning of the fill needle 61, as their length may be desirablyformed to be sufficiently longer than the depth of the recess 35 whenthe slitted wall 37 is opened by tube extension 70, to resilientlydetain the face 65a in spaced relation behind the rear wall 31r ofplunger 31, as generally indicated in FIG. 5. In such position, thelongitudinal grooves extending between the tri-lobed ribs 69 also assureair venting from the vicinity of the slit rearwardly along the recess 35to the zone between spaced faces 65a and 31r.

In the effectively opened condition of the slit 370, the opposing lips37aa engage with opposite sides of the external annular surface of tube70, as generally illustrated in FIGS. 5,6, and 6A. And as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 6A, a natural cat eye vent 37ab will be formed on laterallyopposite sides of the tube 70 between the two interengagement zones ofthe tube 70 and the slit lips 370a. These cat eye vent openings 37abenable full venting of the chamber 13a during filling of liquid L fromthe transfer or fill cylinder or syringe 71, into the chamber 13a, thedesired full or partially filled quantity ofliquid L being determined bythe needs or desires for the indicated use. The cat eye vent openings37ab will normally taper to a closed condition at their exterioropposite ends adjacent the interior bore wall of glass tube body orbarrel 13, in view of the radially compressed and restrained conditionof the plunger within the tube 13 the size of the eye vents 37ab beingdependent on the relative size of the fill tube 70 and the plunger 31and the elasticity and degree of confined compression of the plunger 31within the bore of syringe barrel l3.

The filling of the liquid containment chamber 13a is effected bymanually, or otherwise as may be desired,moving the push rod or handle75 forward in the preferably downwardly extending fill cylinder orsyringe 71, to move the plunger 77 forward in the barrel 73 and therebyexpel the liquid L through the bore 79a in connector tip 79, andthereupon through fill needle bore 63b, 70a and into syringe chamber13a. Venting of the syringe chamber 13a is effected by air passagethrough the natural vent eye openings 37ab.

After the desired extent of filling of the liquid containment chamber13a in the syringe barrel 13 from fill cylinder or syringe 71, theplunger 31 is pushed forwardly so as to disengage ring 33' from itsdetaining engagement with the rear of the syringe barrel, and enableease of effective subsequent connection of a.

manual plunger handle 51 therewith for operation of the plunger indispensing liquid L from the syringe 11. This small extent of forwardmovement of the plunger 31 is easily effected by pushing the fill needle61 and syringe 11 further toward one another to bring the flange 65 andits forward face 65a into pushing contact with the rear face 314 of theplunger 31, and continuing to push the fill needle 61 and syringe 11together until the face 65a contacts the rear face of flange 17a and lip17b on finger grip 17. Alternatively, such may be accomplished withother pusher means, such as a flat ended push rod pushing on surface 31rif a simple fill tube is employed in lieu of fill needle 61, suchpushing being effected in such case after withdrawal of the fill tube.in either case, this will effectively move the piston 31 forward to anextent sufficient to move the groove 34' out of interlocking engagementwith the annular lip 17b, and will position the elastic rearmost sealingring 34' in a radially more compressed condition within and essentiallyradially confined by annular lip 17b. This effectively positions thepiston 31 so as to enable ease of subsequent securement of the handle 51thereto. This position is indicated in FIG. A. The fill cylinder 71 andfill needle 61 are thereupon removed from interengagement with plunger31, or vice versa, through simply imparting relative oppositelongitudinal motion between the fill needle 61 and syringe 11. Theradially substantially compressed condition of the rearmost sealing ring33 by the radial confinement thereof within annular lip 17b aids in theinhibition of reverse or rearward movement of the piston 31 duringwithdrawal of the fill needle 61, although such is not necessary in viewof the relatively small resistance offered to removal of the tube 70 bythe resiliently separated lips 37 aa, as compared to the verysubstantial resistance to the opening of such in the forward directionduring insertion ofthe relatively blunt-ended tube 70 therethrough forfilling.

The removal of the fill needle 61, including its filled tube section,from the plunger 31 enables the slit 37a to be self-reclosed to full oreffectively full interface contiguity between the interfacing slit lips37aa. A handle 51 may thereupon be secured to the plunger 31, by placingsuch against the rear threaded recess section 35a, of the plunger 31,and effecting a slight forward motion of the plunger to move such pastthe lip 17b, and thereupon screwing the threaded forward male end 53 ofthe handle 51 into the threaded section 350 of piston 31. The handle 51has a shoulder stop 54 which provides a positive forward stop for thehandle 51 in its forward motion within plunger recess 35, therebyinsuring against the possibility of inadvertently opening slit 37a byundesired screwing of the handle 51 too far into-the recess 35. Thehandle 51 may thereupon be manipulated forwardly to move the plunger 31and thereby effect movement of the liquid L within chamber 13aforwardly, thus enabling exerting of columnar acting force on forwardseal 41 through the fluid in chamber 13a to cause the valve plug seal 41to be popped out into the enlarged bypass chamber 16, after which theliquid L is thereupon expelled through the chamber 16 and out throughdispenser mouth orifice 19 and such other connection as may be disposedthereon, such as a needle unit, etc., through continued forward motionof the plunger 31 by the manual or other handle 51. lthas been foundthat the self-sealing action of the slit 37a is also effective againstsubsequent aspirating action, as by moving the handle 51 and plunger 31rearwardly in the barrel 13, which may be necessary in some liquiddispensing operations, as when it is desired to determine whether aninjection canula on the discharge end of the syringe is in a vein orother body member.

A modified form of plunger is shown in FIG. 10, being designated by thenumeral 131. In this embodiment the plunger 131 has substantially thesame body configuration as the previously described plunger 31, withannular seal rings and grooves along its longitudinal extent, and havinga forward sealing wall 137, as well as a rear recess with screw threadsformed therein for attachment of a handle 51 thereto. This embodi mentdiffers from the plunger 31 in the formation of the slit 137a, in thatthe slit 137a does not extend across the full extent of the wall 137.However, the slit is formed to extend for a length greater than one-halfthe outer circumference of the fill needle tube section 70, so as toinsure the formation of a natural cat eye vent at one or both of theopposite ends of the slit 137a when the fill needle tube is insertedtherethrough for filling. It will be appreciated that use of a fill tubewith an effective outer circumference equal to or greater than twice thelength of the effective transverse length will prevent the formation ofthe desired eye vent in the slit external of the fill needle tube, andthereby necessitate other substantially less desirable venting provisions, such as utilization of a much less desirable dual bore or otherfill needle with its own internal self-ven'tf."

ing characteristic. v

A further and preferred modified piston construction is illustrated inFIG. 11, being indicated by the reference numeral 231. This piston issimilar to piston 31 in its external configuration, having alternatingannular sealing rings 233 and annular grooves 234 along its externallength, and having a rear facing recess 235, with a threaded annularinternal surface 235a along .its rear extent. The sealing rings 233 and234 are designated 233', 234', 233", 234", and 233" respectively fromthe rear forwardly, for ease of explanation of a form of utilization ofthis plunger 231 or the plunger 31, in the filling mode as shown in FIG.12 and subsequently described.

This modified and preferred plunger 231 differs particularly from theplunger 31 in its provision of a tapered internal forward wall surface235b at the forward end recess 235, the slit 2370 being cut across theapex of this tapered wall surface and extending rearwardly therefrom asshown in H6. 11. The tapered wall surface 235b materially aids inguiding the fill needle tube or other blunt-nosed tube into centeredengagement with the slit 237a for ease of insertion therethrough. Thelength of the threaded section 2350 may be formed to accommodate theeffective length of the threaded male section 53 on a desired handle 51,so as to position the shoulder stop 54 against the rear face of theplunger 231 in a stopped position when fully inserted, although there issubstantially little if any possibility of opening the slit 237a byattempting to screw the handle threaded end 53 beyond the threads 235ain this embodiment, in view of the tapered forward end surface 235!) andthe forwardly spaced disposition of the rear extent of slit 237a beyondthe end of the threaded section 235a.

Various other plunger constructions might be employed, such as a plungerutilizing a different sealing surface configuration along itslongitudinal extent, or the plunger might be formed in two or moreseparate parts, such as by two interfitting longitudinally split halveswhich might have a tongue and groove or other interfit interengagementsurface therebetween, so as to thereby form the slit in the forward wallwithout necessity for separate cutting after molding of the plunger, orthe slit might be formed by other than cutting, although cutting is thepreferred method of forming the slit, or other forms of slits might beutilized, although the greatly preferred and most advantageous form isthe straight line diametral slit as employed in the embodiments ofFlGS.9 and 11.

As mentioned previously, FIG. 12 illustrates a modified, thoughsubstantially less preferred, positioning of a slitted plunger in therear end of syringe 11, for and during filling. In this embodiment, theplunger embodiment of FIG. 11 is shown for illustrative purposes, itbeing appreciated that the plunger 31 or other plunger constructionaccording to the invention might be suitably utilized to practice thismodified mode according to the invention.

According to this modified mode of practice, the piston 231 (or 31,etc.) is positioned with the annular lip 17b engaging in the annulargroove 234" between the mid-sealing ring 233" and the forward sealingring 233", in lieu of being an engagement in groove 234' between rearsealing ring 233' and mid-sealing ring 233". Longitudinalmotive-inhibiting action on the piston 231 is thereby effected,similarly to the inhibiting action described in the precedingembodiments and mode of practice. However, it will be appreciated thatas the greater extent of the piston 231 is in this mode external of thesyringe barrel, such is less laterally stable, as compared to the modeas shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and also, additional pushing effort andaction is subsequently required on this less stable body to move suchforwardly into a position comparable as shown in FIG. A, aftercompletion of filling, and preparatory to removal of the fill needle 61from the plunger 231 (or 31, etc.) and subsequent connection of a handle51 thereto for operational manipulation of the plunger in the coursedispensing the liquid L from the syringe 11.

While such is not illustrated, it is feasible to employ the invention inthe form of a syringe body cartridge,

without utilization of one or both of finger grip 17 and nose member 15,in which instance an annular or other suitable radially inwardlyprotruding detent may be provided on the cartridge barrel 13 eitherintegrally or otherwise secured thereto, to serve the function ofannular lip detent 17b. It will be appreciated that such a cartridge hasmultiple uses, including being usable to form a complete syringe as bysecuring a forward nose member 15 and a finger grip member 17 thereon,either before or after filling. Alternatively, a syringe body cartridgeof this nature may be inserted into a syringe or syringe shell or otherconstruction, which has a capability of utilization of cartridges.

It will further be appreciated that the forward seal 41 in any of thevarious constructions may be differently formed, as for instance byutilizing a conventional this rupturable membrane of rubber, suitablysecured over or within the forward end of the tube body or barrel 13, aspreviously discussed, and as may be desired for a given utilization.Also, other selectively openable forward seal constructions may beemployed in lieu of the seal 41, and/or an injection needle unit may besecured or formed on the forward end of barrel body 13, with or withouta removable cover and/or seal thereover, as may be desired for aparticular utilization.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodimentsillustrated and described are preferred and illustrative, and thatvarious other modifications and improvements may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance,while the illustrative and much preferred and advantageous embodimentsand modes of practice according to the invention utilize an annularmovementinhibiting lip 17b in contact with annular sealing ring andgroove surface on the backfillable plunger, other inhibiting detentarrangements might be utilized on either of both of the plunger andsyringe barrel, as desired or appropriate. Accordingly, the invention isnot to be limited by the particular illustrative and preferredembodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A fillable liquid dispensing arrangement, comprising a barrel havinga liquid-holding chamber with a forward port end for dispensing ofliquid therethrough,

said barrel having a rear end opening with a radially inwardly extendinglip stop, and having a sealing plunger of elastic material and movablydisposed therein at the rear end of said barrel and slidable in andalong said chamber,

said plunger having a lip-engageable external surface protrusion thereonadjacent its rear end, and also having means for connecting a handle,said plunger initially extending partially into said barrel through saidrear end opening and extending partially rearwardly beyond said rear endopening,

said lip-engageable protrusion being disposed rearwardly of and adjacentsaid lip, to inhibit, but not prohibit, forward motion of said plungerwithin said rear end opening,

an openable pre-formed slit in said plunger and resiliently biased to aclosed condition for enabling filling of said chamber with liquid froman external source and subsequent self-closure of said slit,

said plunger and its said slit being engageable through said rear endopening for filling therethrough and for externally manually controlledsliding motion of said plunger. 2. A liquid dispensing arrangementaccording to claim 1,

said plunger having a threaded external recess formed therein forthreadedly connecting a manipulable handle thereto, said slit beingformed in a forward wall defining a forward extent of said recess. 3. Aliquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 2, I said plunger beingformed of elastic material in the zone of said slit. 4. A liquiddispensing arrangement according to claim 3,

said plunger being an integral molded unit of elastic material. 5. Aliquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 4,

said plunger being formed of rubber. 6. A liquid dispensing arrangementaccording to claim 1, i

said barrel comprising a syringe having a finger grip thereon adjacentsaid rear end, and having an orifice at its forward end for facilitatingdispensing of liquids from said chamber. 7. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 6,

said forward end of said barrel having a reduced diameter connector noseat its forward end, said orifice being formed in said connector nose. 8.A liquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 6,

and a liquid-flow-inhibiting means adjacent the forward port end of saidbarrel for effectively substantially fully inhibiting liquid flow fromsaid port end during rear end filling through said plunger. 9. A liquiddispensing arrangement according to claim 8,

and a selectively effectively openable closure element forming saidliquid-flow-inhibiting means adjacent said forward end of said chamber.10. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 9,

said closure element comprising a removable cover. 11. A liquiddispensing arrangement according to claim 9,

said closure element comprising a valve. 12. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 11,

said closure element comprising a movable by-pass valve. 13. A liquiddispensing arrangement according to claim 9,

said closure element being a slidable valve plug formed of elasticmaterial engaging in sliding compressed and sealing relation within aforward end of said barrel, said barrel having a forward enlargedby-pass chamber for selective forward movement of said valve plugthereinto, to enable selected dispensing of liquid from said chamberpast said by-pass valve plug. 14. A liquid dispensing arrangementaccording to claim 1,

said slit extending across the full forward extent of said plunger. 15.A liquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 1,

said slit extending across a portion of and less than the full forwardextent of said plunger. 16. A liquid dispensing arrangement according toclaim ll,

said slit extending fully through a seal wall of said plunger. 17. Aliquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 1,

said slit extending almost fully through a seal wall of said plunger andhaving a thin easily ruptured connecting web membrane which does notrequire pointed instrument puncture or piercing to be opened but whichmay be sheared upon and by stretching of said slit through insertion ofsaid male fill member therein. 18. A liquid dispensing arrangementaccording to claim 1,

said plunger having an elastic annular sealing ring thereon forming saidlip-engageable protrusion, and being radially compressibly movable pastsaid lip stop and engageable in sliding sealing engagement with the wallof said liquid holding chamber for and during forward dispensing motionof said plungerafter filling of said chamber through said slit. 19. Aliquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 18,

and an annular outer groove formed on said plunger immediately forwardof said elastic annular sealing ring and in releasably engagement withsaid lipstop. 20. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 19,

said lip stop being an annular lip. 21. A fillable dispenser for fluids,comprising a liquid-containment body having a bore therein and a dualfunction dispensing-effective and fillenabling plunger extending onlypartially within the rear end of said bore and being selectivelypositively longitudinally movable along said bore to effect dispensingmovement of fluid along said bore and from within said body, saidplunger having a radially elastically compressible motion inhibitingstop adjacent its rear end and extending rearwardly and radially beyondthe effective rear end opening at the rear end of said body, saidplunger having a pre-formed self-sealing opening therein for enablementof filling of said liquidcontainment body. 22. A fillable dispenser forfluids according to claim 21,

said plunger being a cup-shaped member formed of elastic material andhaving said opening formed in its bottom wall which extends forwardly insaid body. 23. A fillable dispenser for fluids according to claim 22,

said opening being a self-closing slit having elastically deformablelaterally interengageable and interfacing'lip surfaces. 24. A fillabledispenser for fluids according to'claim 23,

said plunger having an elastically compressible annular seal ringforming said motion-inhibiting stop, and an outer annular groove formedon said plunger and disposed forwardly of said seal ring, said groove inmotion-inhibiting-aiding engaging relation with a radially inwardlyextending portion of said body at and forming a part of the effectiverear end opening at the rear end of said body.

25. A fillable dispenser for fluids according to claim said radiallyinwardly extending portion of said body comprising an annular lipextending radially inwardly beyond the adjacent wall surface formingsaid bore.

26. A fillable dispenser for fluids according to Claim said slitextending across the full forward face of said plunger and along apartial rearward extent thereof.

27. A fillable dispenser for fluids according to claim said slitextending across less than the full forward extent of said plunger.

28. A fillable dispenser for fluids according to claim said body havingan effectively sealed forward end which may be selectively unsealed toenable dispensing of liquid therefrom.

29. A fillable dispenser for fluids according to claim said bodycomprising a syringe body member with a cylindrical bore therein andforming the first mentioned said bore, and said bore having a liquidcontainment section thereof between the forward end of said plunger andsaid sealed forward end.

30. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus, comprisa liquid dispensingbarrel having a selectively effectively openable closed dispensing end,a liquid receiving chamber and a slidable plunger for effectingdispensing of liquid from said chamber through said dispensing end,

said plunger extending only partially into said barrel preparatory tofilling of said barrel,

said plunger having a normally closed pre-formed opening therein forselective external fluid communication with said chamber,

a transversely outwardly protruding compressible effectivemotion-inhibiting detent formed on and adjacent the rear end of saidplunger and engaging with a rearwardly facing wall on the rear end ofsaid barrel,

and a male fill member adapted to be inserted into and open saidpre-formed opening and having a liquid flow passageway to enable fillingof said chamber with liquid,

said pre-formed opening being greater in effective openedcross-sectional peripheral size than the corresponding effectivecross-sectional peripheral size of said male fill member.

31. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 30,

said plunger being formed of self-recoverable elastic material adjacentand forming its said opening, said opening being a pre-formedself-closing slit.

32. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 31,

said slit extending across the full extent of the forward face of saidplunger. 33. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim31,

said slit extending across a portion of the forward face of saidplunger. 34. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim31,

said plunger having a screw-in threaded recess in its rear externalsurface, and said slit being formed in a forward wall of said plungerdefining the forward extent of said recess.

35. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according i to claim 34,

said fill member having a tubular male section engageable in openingrelation with said pre-formed slit.

36. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 35,

said fill member having a longitudinally ribbed section extendingrearwardly of the forward end of said fill member to assist inmaintaining a vent opening along the zone of said threaded recess insaid plunger.

37. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 30,

said fill member having connection means enabling connection thereof toa fill cylinder.

38. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 37, and afill cylinder adapted to be connected to said fill member.

39. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 38,

said fill cylinder comprising a fill syringe having a Luer nose-endconnector, and said fill member having a Luer connector complementary tosaid nose-end connector.

40. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 30,

said male fill member including a tube section having an outercircumference or periphery less than the effective openedcross-sectional peripheral size of said opening.

41. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 40,

said opening being a slit and being longer than onehalf of the effectivesaid outer circumference of periphery of said fill member tube section.

42. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 41 saidtube section having a relatively blunt forward end.

43. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 41,

said slit extending fully through a seal wall of said plunger.

44. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 41,

said slit extending almost fully through a seal wall of said plunger andhaving a thin relatively easily ruptured connecting web membrane whichdoes not require pointed instrument puncture or piercing to be openedbut which may be sheared upon and by stretching thereof throughthrusting motion thereagainst in the course of insertion of said malefill member into said slit.

ble rearwardly and radially protruding portion of said plunger with adetent surface at the rear of said body and thereby resilientlyelastically inhibiting forward motion of said plunger while opening apre-formed self-closing valve in said plunger by insertion of a tubularmember therein having a bore therethrough,

and passing liquid through said bore while enabling air venting fromsaid chamber past said tubular member at other than said bore,

thereupon removing said tubular member from said valve and enabling theself-closure of said valve.

46. The method according to claim 45,

said valve being a pre-formed slit having opposing elastic lips whichare biased into interengagement, and said opening of said valve beingeffected by in sertion of said tubular member through said slit, to forman opening with a vent eye between said tubular member and the lips ofsaid slit, said venting being effected through said vent eye.

47. The method according to claim 46,

and subsequently moving said plunger forwardly to radially compress saidradially protruding portion of said plunger and to release said plungerfor attachment of a handle thereto and selective liquidmoving motionthereof.

48. The method according to claim 47,

and connecting a handle to said plunger after filling therethrough, fordispensing of said liquid from saidliquid-containment chamber andthrough said forward dispensing end.

49. The method according to claim 47,

said plunger having a rear facing threaded connector section, and saidinsertion of said tubular member therein being effected by rotating andthreadedly engaging said tubular member with said threaded connector toimpart relative longitudinal joining motion between said tubular memberand said plunger through the camming effect imparted by said rotationand threaded engagement.

50. The method according to claim 49,

and subsequently connecting a handle to said plunger by threadedengagement with said threaded connector section.

51. The method according to claim 46,

said insertion of said tubular member being effected by axial thrustingof said tubular member through said slit.

52. The method according to claim 51, g

and subsequently connecting a handle to said plunger for dispensing ofsaid liquid from said liquid-containment chamber and through saidforward dispensing end.

53. A male fill member for a liquid containment body having an elasticplunger with a screw-threaded recess therein the'bottom wall having aslit formed therein, said fill member, comprising a body havingablunt-nosed forward tube section, said body having a laterally extendingplunger pusher section disposed rearwardly of the blunt-nosed forwardend of said forward tube section,

and spacer means having" an effective stop shoulder surface facingtoward the forward blunt-nosed end of said forward tube section andspaced between said plunger pusher section and said stop shouldersurface and engageable with said plunger bottom wall when said forwardtube section is inserted in said slit to space said pusher sectionrearwardly of the effective rear surface of said plunger,

and an longitudinal vent recess extending past said stop shouldersurface.

54. A male fill member according to claim 54,

said spacer means comprising a plurality of longitudinally ribs formedalong an extent of said tube section between said pusher section andsaid stop shoulder surface.

55. A male fill member according to claim 54,

said body having means thereon for connection thereof to a source ofliquid for filling therethrough.

56. A slidable plunger for a dispenser, comprising a cup-shaped body ofelastic material having formed on its longitudinal external surface aplurality of annular sealing rings with an annular groove therebetween,

said cup-shaped body having an internal securing section and a forwardlyand inwardly tapered internal bottom surface,

and a self-sealing slit formed in said conically tapered bottom.

57. A slidable plunger according to claim 56,

said internal securing section comprising a female threaded section.

58. A slidable plunger according to claim 56,

said slit extending fully across said bottom.

59. A slidable plunger according to claim 58,

said slit extending through a portion of said tapered bottom surface.

UNiTED STATES PATENT CFFECE CERTIFICATE "F ECTIQN Patent )..'729..O'i.2Dated ADI'il 21.1.. 1973 fi y Edward A; Tischlinger et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said, Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet, after the abstract, "59 Claims" should vread 63Claims a Column 1, line 18, "or" second occurrence should read o'n a 3 vline 1 .7, "sold" should read solid Column 2,, line; 2, "fillinf shouldread filling line 26, between "in" and "sterile" insert a-,

line 65, "that" should read than Column 3; line 1 3, "Figure 9" shouldread Figure 8 Column Lt, line 5, between "rear" and "thereof insert f""9 I I r line 6-, after "tubing" insert ,line 61, "groobe's" shouldread-- grooves ColumnuSQl'ine 3'0, 2 "accomodate" should readaccorrnnodatei Colum f- 6, in 19,-"08" should read of coium iff; line213., "and" should read as line 5O, "apprediated should read--appreciated--.

, line 52, "rearmose" should read rearmpst Column 11," line IQ, "an"should. read in V v a line 63,, between "course" and "dispensing" insertof ---l-.

Claim 11, line 3, after "valve" insert seal Claim "l2, line 1 after"valve" insert seal FORM PO-105O (10-69) UsCOMM-DC 60376-P69 a u.s.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 o-sss-su,

Patent No. 3: 7 9, 3 Dated April Zll, 19?} Inventor) Edward A.Tischlinger' et el.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim b5, lines 3-6 should be part of the introduction, and do not formseparate additional paragraphs.

Claim 53 line 17, "an" should read a.

Claim 514., line l,v "5h." should read 53 Column 18, after Claim 59 addthe following 7 claims 60. A fillable liquid dispensing arrangexnentcomprising a liquid-containment body having a bore therein and a dualfunction dispensing-effecting and fill-enabling plunger longitudinallymovable along said bore to effect dispensing movement of liquid alongsaid bore and from within said body,

said plunger having a pre-formed self-sealing opening therein forenablement of filling of said liquid-containment body,

said body having a motion-inhibiting detent engaged by a forwardlyfacing elastic portion of said plunger in a fill position of saidplunger in said bore to inhibit, but not prohibit forward movement ofsaid plunger within said body.

FORM PO-IOSO (10 69) U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I989 0--386-33l.

USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U ir En TATES PATENT orrier Page 3 QERHHCATE @F@QRREQTWN Patent No. 3, 7 9 3 Dated April 4-: 73

Inventor(s) Edward A. Tisohlinger et a1 It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

\ 61. An arrangement according to Claim 60,

and a male fill member adapted to be inserted into and open saidpre-formed opening and having a liquid flow passageway to enable fillingtherethrough with liquid 62 An arrangement according to Claim 61,

said pre-formed opening being greater in effective opened crosssectionalperipheral size by said male fill' member than I the correspondingeffective cross-sectional peripheral size of said male fill member 63 Anarrangement according to Claim 60,

4 said pre-formed opening being an elastically self-closing slit Signedand sealed this 19th day of March 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MDFLETCHER,JR

c MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PC4050(10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O376-P69 ms. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I9690-386-834,

1. A fillable liquid dispensing arrangement, comprising a barrel havinga liquid-holding chamber with a forward port end for dispensing ofliquid therethrough, said barrel having a rear end opening with aradially inwardly extending lip stop, and having a sealing plunger ofelastic material and movably disposed therein at the rear end of saidbarrel and slidable in and along said chamber, said plunger having alip-engageable external surface protrusion thereon adjacent its rearend, and also having means for connecting a handle, said plungerinitially extending partially into said barrel through said rear endopening and extending partially rearwardly beyond said rear end opening,said lip-engageable protrusion being disposed rearwardly of and adjacentsaid lip, to inhibit, but not prohibit, forward motion of said plungerwithin said rear end opening, an openable pre-formed slit in saidplunger and resiliently biased to a closed condition for enablingfilling of said chamber with liquid from an external source andsubsequent self-closure of said slit, said plunger and its said slitbeing engageable through said rear end opening for filling therethroughand for externally manually controlled sliding motion of said plunger.2. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 1, said plungerhaving a threaded external recess formed therein for threadedlyconnecting a manipulable handle thereto, said slit being formed in aforward wall defining a forward extent of said recess.
 3. A liquiddispensing arrangement according to claim 2, said plunger being formedof elastic material in the zone of said slit.
 4. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 3, said plunger being an integral moldedunit of elastic material.
 5. A liquid dispensing arrangement accordingto claim 4, said plunger being formed of rubber.
 6. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 1, said barrel comprising a syringehaving a finger grip thereon adjacent said rear end, and having anorifice at its forward end for facilitating dispensing of liquids fromsaid chamber.
 7. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 6,said forward end of said barrel having a reduced diameter connector noseat its forward end, said orifice being formed in said connector nose. 8.A liquid dispensing arrangement according to claim 6, and aliquid-flow-inhibiting means adjacent the forward port end of saidbarrel for effectively substantially fully inhibiting liquid flow fromsaid port end during rear end filling through said plunger.
 9. A liquiddispensing arrangement according to claim 8, and a selectivelyeffectively openable closure element forming said liquid-flow-inhibitingmeans adjacent said forward end of said chamber.
 10. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 9, said closure element comprising aremovable cover.
 11. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to claim9, said closure element comprising a valve seal.
 12. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 11, said closure element comprising amovable by-pass valve seal.
 13. A liquid dispensing arrangementaccording to claim 9, said closure element being a slidable valve plugformed of elastic material engaging in sliding compressed and sealingrelation within a forward end of said barrel, said barrel having aforward enlarged by-pass chamber for selective forward movement of saidvalve plug thereinto, to enable selected dispensing of liquid from saidchamber past said by-pass valve plug.
 14. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 1, said slit extending across the fullforward extent of said plunger.
 15. A liquid dispensing arrangementaccording to claim 1, said slit extending across a portion of and lessthan the full forward extent of said plunger.
 16. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 1, said slit extending fully through aseal wall of said plunger.
 17. A liquid dispensing arrangement accordingto claim 1, said slit extending almost fully through a seal wall of saidplunger and having a thin easily ruptured connecting web membrane whichdoes not require pointed instrument puncture or piercing to be openedbut which may be sheared upon and by stretching of said slit throughinsertion of said male fill member therein.
 18. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 1, said plunger having an elastic annularsealing ring thereon forming said lip-engageable protrusion, and beingradially compressibly movable past said lip stop and engageable insliding sealing engagement with the wall of said liquid holding chamberfor and during forward dispensing motion of said plunger after fillingof said chamber through said slit.
 19. A liquid dispensing arrangementaccording to claim 18, and an annular outer groove formed on saidplunger immediately forward of said elastic annular sealing ring and inreleasably engagement with said lip stop.
 20. A liquid dispensingarrangement according to claim 19, said lip stop being an annular lip.21. A fillable dispenser for fluids, comprising a liquid-containmentbody having a bore therein and a dual function dispensing-effective andfill-enabling plunger extending only partially within the rear end ofsaid bore and being selectively positively longitudinally movable alongsaid bore to effect dispensing movement of fluid along said bore andfrom within said body, said plunger having a radially elasticallycompressible motion inhibiting stop adjacent its rear end and extendingrearwardly and radially beyond the effective rear end opening at therear end of said body, said plunger having a pre-formed self-sealingopening therein for enablement of filling of said liquid-containmeNtbody.
 22. A fillable dispenser for fluids according to claim 21, saidplunger being a cup-shaped member formed of elastic material and havingsaid opening formed in its bottom wall which extends forwardly in saidbody.
 23. A fillable dispenser for fluids according to claim 22, saidopening being a self-closing slit having elastically deformablelaterally interengageable and interfacing lip surfaces.
 24. A fillabledispenser for fluids according to claim 23, said plunger having anelastically compressible annular seal ring forming saidmotion-inhibiting stop, and an outer annular groove formed on saidplunger and disposed forwardly of said seal ring, said groove inmotion-inhibiting-aiding engaging relation with a radially inwardlyextending portion of said body at and forming a part of the effectiverear end opening at the rear end of said body.
 25. A fillable dispenserfor fluids according to claim 24, said radially inwardly extendingportion of said body comprising an annular lip extending radiallyinwardly beyond the adjacent wall surface forming said bore.
 26. Afillable dispenser for fluids according to claim 23, said slit extendingacross the full forward face of said plunger and along a partialrearward extent thereof.
 27. A fillable dispenser for fluids accordingto claim 23, said slit extending across less than the full forwardextent of said plunger.
 28. A fillable dispenser for fluids according toclaim 21, said body having an effectively sealed forward end which maybe selectively unsealed to enable dispensing of liquid therefrom.
 29. Afillable dispenser for fluids according to claim 28, said bodycomprising a syringe body member with a cylindrical bore therein andforming the first mentioned said bore, and said bore having a liquidcontainment section thereof between the forward end of said plunger andsaid sealed forward end.
 30. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus,comprising a liquid dispensing barrel having a selectively effectivelyopenable closed dispensing end, a liquid receiving chamber and aslidable plunger for effecting dispensing of liquid from said chamberthrough said dispensing end, said plunger extending only partially intosaid barrel preparatory to filling of said barrel, said plunger having anormally closed pre-formed opening therein for selective external fluidcommunication with said chamber, a transversely outwardly protrudingcompressible effective motion-inhibiting detent formed on and adjacentthe rear end of said plunger and engaging with a rearwardly facing wallon the rear end of said barrel, and a male fill member adapted to beinserted into and open said pre-formed opening and having a liquid flowpassageway to enable filling of said chamber with liquid, saidpre-formed opening being greater in effective opened cross-sectionalperipheral size than the corresponding effective cross-sectionalperipheral size of said male fill member.
 31. Liquid filling anddispensing apparatus according to claim 30, said plunger being formed ofself-recoverable elastic material adjacent and forming its said opening,said opening being a pre-formed self-closing slit.
 32. Liquid fillingand dispensing apparatus according to claim 31, said slit extendingacross the full extent of the forward face of said plunger.
 33. Liquidfilling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 31, said slitextending across a portion of the forward face of said plunger. 34.Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 31, saidplunger having a screw-in threaded recess in its rear external surface,and said slit being formed in a forward wall of said plunger definingthe forward extent of said recess.
 35. Liquid filling and dispensingapparatus according to claim 34, said fill member having a tubular malesection engageable in opening relation with said pre-formed slit. 36.Liquid filling and dispensing appAratus according to claim 35, said fillmember having a longitudinally ribbed section extending rearwardly ofthe forward end of said fill member to assist in maintaining a ventopening along the zone of said threaded recess in said plunger. 37.Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 30, said fillmember having connection means enabling connection thereof to a fillcylinder.
 38. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim37, and a fill cylinder adapted to be connected to said fill member. 39.Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 38, said fillcylinder comprising a fill syringe having a Luer nose-end connector, andsaid fill member having a Luer connector complementary to said nose-endconnector.
 40. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatus according toclaim 30, said male fill member including a tube section having an outercircumference or periphery less than the effective openedcross-sectional peripheral size of said opening.
 41. Liquid filling anddispensing apparatus according to claim 40, said opening being a slitand being longer than one-half of the effective said outer circumferenceof periphery of said fill member tube section.
 42. Liquid filling anddispensing apparatus according to claim 41, said tube section having arelatively blunt forward end.
 43. Liquid filling and dispensingapparatus according to claim 41, said slit extending fully through aseal wall of said plunger.
 44. Liquid filling and dispensing apparatusaccording to claim 41, said slit extending almost fully through a sealwall of said plunger and having a thin relatively easily rupturedconnecting web membrane which does not require pointed instrumentpuncture or piercing to be opened but which may be sheared upon and bystretching thereof through thrusting motion thereagainst in the courseof insertion of said male fill member into said slit.
 45. The method offilling a syringe body having a liquid-containment chamber with arearwardly bounding manually operable plunger and a forward dispensingend spaced from the plunger, comprising resiliently engaging anelastically radially compressible rearwardly and radially protrudingportion of said plunger with a detent surface at the rear of said bodyand thereby resiliently elastically inhibiting forward motion of saidplunger while opening a pre-formed self-closing valve in said plunger byinsertion of a tubular member therein having a bore therethrough, andpassing liquid through said bore while enabling air venting from saidchamber past said tubular member at other than said bore, thereuponremoving said tubular member from said valve and enabling theself-closure of said valve.
 46. The method according to claim 45, saidvalve being a pre-formed slit having opposing elastic lips which arebiased into interengagement, and said opening of said valve beingeffected by insertion of said tubular member through said slit, to forman opening with a vent eye between said tubular member and the lips ofsaid slit, said venting being effected through said vent eye.
 47. Themethod according to claim 46, and subsequently moving said plungerforwardly to radially compress said radially protruding portion of saidplunger and to release said plunger for attachment of a handle theretoand selective liquid-moving motion thereof.
 48. The method according toclaim 47, and connecting a handle to said plunger after fillingtherethrough, for dispensing of said liquid from said liquid-containmentchamber and through said forward dispensing end.
 49. The methodaccording to claim 47, said plunger having a rear facing threadedconnector section, and said insertion of said tubular member thereinbeing effected by rotating and threadedly engaging said tubular memberwith said threaded connector to impart relative longitudinal joiningmotion between said tubular member and said plunger through thE cammingeffect imparted by said rotation and threaded engagement.
 50. The methodaccording to claim 49, and subsequently connecting a handle to saidplunger by threaded engagement with said threaded connector section. 51.The method according to claim 46, said insertion of said tubular memberbeing effected by axial thrusting of said tubular member through saidslit.
 52. The method according to claim 51, and subsequently connectinga handle to said plunger for dispensing of said liquid from saidliquid-containment chamber and through said forward dispensing end. 53.A male fill member for a liquid containment body having an elasticplunger with a screw-threaded recess therein the bottom wall having aslit formed therein, said fill member, comprising a body having ablunt-nosed forward tube section, said body having a laterally extendingplunger pusher section disposed rearwardly of the blunt-nosed forwardend of said forward tube section, and spacer means having an effectivestop shoulder surface facing toward the forward blunt-nosed end of saidforward tube section and spaced between said plunger pusher section andsaid stop shoulder surface and engageable with said plunger bottom wallwhen said forward tube section is inserted in said slit to space saidpusher section rearwardly of the effective rear surface of said plunger,and a longitudinal vent recess extending past said stop shouldersurface.
 54. A male fill member according to claim 54, said spacer meanscomprising a plurality of longitudinally ribs formed along an extent ofsaid tube section between said pusher section and said stop shouldersurface.
 55. A male fill member according to claim 54, said body havingmeans thereon for connection thereof to a source of liquid for fillingtherethrough.
 56. A slidable plunger for a dispenser, comprising acup-shaped body of elastic material having formed on its longitudinalexternal surface a plurality of annular sealing rings with an annulargroove therebetween, said cup-shaped body having an internal securingsection and a forwardly and inwardly tapered internal bottom surface,and a self-sealing slit formed in said conically tapered bottom.
 57. Aslidable plunger according to claim 56, said internal securing sectioncomprising a female threaded section.
 58. A slidable plunger accordingto claim 56, said slit extending fully across said bottom.
 59. Aslidable plunger according to claim 58, said slit extending through aportion of said tapered bottom surface.